Delta plastics plant to close, eliminating 65 positions

DELTA, Ohio — Graham Packaging Co. plans to close its plastic container-making factory in Delta between July and September, eliminating the jobs of 55 hourly employees and 10 salaried employees.

The company’s decision was made public Tuesday through a Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification act filing with the state of Ohio. The company did not respond to calls seeking comment.

In its notification with the state, Graham Packaging of York, Pa., did not give a specific date for the closing, but said it would begin laying off workers on July 1 and conclude by September 30, after which it would dismantle equipment and close the plant.

In its notification with the state, the company said it was closing the plant because of overcapacity and was consolidating its manufacturing. It did not say where work at the plant was being relocated or if the Delta plant’s work would be done elsewhere.

Graham Packaging, which operates plants in Findlay and Fremont, purchased the plastic packaging assets of Owens-Illinois Inc. in 2004.

The company makes plastic containers for juices, sport, and yogurt drinks, nutritional supplements, condiments, dressings, and beers. It also makes quart bottles for motor oil.

Graham Packaging said there may be some opportunity for a few employees to find work at other Graham plants if positions become available. It did not say how likely that was.

Last year, consumer packaging maker Silgan Holdings Inc. made a bid to acquire Graham Packaging Co. for $4.1 billion in cash, stock, and assumption of debt but the deal was never completed.